362 Thirty Years 



as equally respectable. This assurance, made in the 

 presence of Mr. Weeks, was particularly gratifying to 

 us, as it completely disproved the defence that had 

 been set up, respecting the injurious reports that had 

 been circulated against us, amongst the Indians in 

 the spring ; namely, that they were in retaliation for 

 our endeavors to lower the traders in the eyes of the 

 Indians. I take this opportunity of stating my 

 opinion, that Mr. Weeks, in spreading these reports, 

 was actuated by a mistaken idea that he was serving 

 the interest of his employers. On the present occasion, 

 we felt indebted to him for the sympathy he displayed 

 for our distresses, and the kindness with which he ad- 

 ministered to our personal wants. After this con- 

 ■. such Indians as were indebted to the Com- 



m re paid for the provision they had given us-, 

 by deducting a corresponding ship, from their debts ; 

 in the same way we gave a reward of sixteen skins of 

 I i to each of the persons who had come to our re- 

 . Lterprize. As the debts of Akaitcho 

 and liis hunters had been effaced at the time of his 



jement with us, we placed a Bum, equal to the 

 am unit .if provision they had recently supplied, 1" 

 their credit on the Company's books. These things 

 h the moderation of the Indians, ml just - 

 ed with an unexpected futility, we gave them a keg 

 of mi*ed liquors, (five parts water,) and distributed 



